INTRODUCTION
A major New York City–based network broadcaster unveiled a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot newsroom studio. Designed to be flexible and visually striking, the space combines glass, sleek surfaces, exposed brick, and modern video panels to create a high-tech yet warm environment. The renovation integrated cutting-edge Ultra High Definition (UHD) video technology while maintaining the network’s historic brand identity, supporting both broadcast and cable news productions.
THE CHALLENGE
The broadcaster’s design consultant, TAD Associates, faced several challenges:
- Designing a flexible, modular studio that could adapt on-air layouts, anchor desk configurations, and lighting for various segments
- Supporting two LED video walls, including movable tracking panels for diverse programming
- Ensuring the highest-quality UHD video broadcasts for both live and recorded content
- Integrating SDI and AV systems without signal degradation or lag
A key objective was a unified switching solution capable of bridging traditional SDI/3G-SDI infrastructure with modern HDMI, DVI, and other AV interfaces – without relying on multiple converters or creating delays. Reliability, speed, and signal quality were paramount for a live broadcast environment where timing is critical.
THE SOLUTION
To meet these requirements, TAD Associates selected the PureLink PM-128X 128×128 PureMedia™ Matrix Switcher. This cross-platform matrix switcher allows any input to be routed to any combination of outputs – including HDMI, DVI, 3G/HD-SDI, fiber optic, CATx (HDBaseT), DisplayPort, and VGA – while maintaining full signal fidelity. With support for up to 32 I/O boards and simultaneous multi-format routing, the PM-128X offered the flexibility needed for the newsroom’s dynamic production requirements.
The matrix switcher was integrated by Video Corporation of America (VCA), a top-tier AV integrator recognized for its expertise in broadcast and enterprise audiovisual systems. PureLink’s seamless SDI-to-AV conversion and real-time switching ensured that all signals – from cameras, media servers, and graphics feeds – reached the correct displays with no lag, preserving broadcast quality and operational reliability.
THE RESULT
The installation provided the newsroom with a robust, future-proof AV infrastructure capable of handling high-volume UHD broadcasts. The PM-128X’s flexibility and cross-platform capabilities allowed studio producers to easily reconfigure layouts, integrate new content sources, and maintain uninterrupted signal quality across all displays.
THE REVIEW
“Our main concern was to seamlessly interconnect SDI and AV elements for the broadcast signals. PureLink consistently guarantees that the handshake between different formats occurs on time and without error. Their matrix switchers were the only product that met the speed, resolution, and reliability requirements of this high-profile studio.” – Mattias Allevik, Lead Design Engineer at VCA.
TAA
